/ f
E U P H O R B I A Esula.
Leafy-branched Spurge.
DODECANDRIA Trigynia.
Gen. Char. Cal. of 1 leaf, inflated, inferior. Nectaries
4 or 5, standing on the calyx. Caps, stalked,
3-lobed.
Spec. Char. Umbel of many dichotomous rays. Partial
involucra somewhat heart-shaped. Nectaries twohorned.
All the leaves uniform.
Syn. Euphorbia Esula. Linn. Sp. PI. 660. Lightf.
1135. Sm. FI. Brit. 518.
Tithymalus pineus. Ger. em. 499.
M r . LIGHTFOOT did not think himself authorized to
admit this plant into his Flora, as he had not seen specimens.
He therefore merely mentions the report of its being a native,
in doing which he falls into a small error respecting the precise
place of its growth, which is in a wood near a rivulet at
Abercorn, thirteen miles west of Edinburgh, from which the
late Mr. J. Mackay sent us wild specimens. That in our
plate came from Mr. W . Borrer’s garden, the root having been
found at Slinfold, Sussex. As this species is never cultivated
in gardens for ornament or use, we see no reason to doubt its
being wild in our island. Mr. Benjamin Charlesworth appears
to have first discovered it.
The root is woody, creeping and perennial. Stems a foot
high or more, erect, smooth like all the rest of the herb.
Lateral branches numerous, leafy, chiefly without flowers
except the uppermost, in which respects it agrees with
E . Cyparissias, t. 840, but differs in having all the leaves of
an uniform size, and of a narrow obovate form. The flowers
appear early in July, in an umbel of many rays, with heart-
shaped involucra. Their nectaries are of a tawny brown,
with 2 horns. Capsule without warts or hairs.
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